Wild Instincts

06/06/2026

Another gorgeous weekend in the Northwoods.
Please SLOW DOWN. Be considerate of our Wild Neighbors, many of whom have young with them.
This also applies when you are on the water. There are lots of little ducklings out and about Pay attention from a distance. Keep your wake from breaking up families.
We can all share and enjoy this wonderful area safely.
(Hooded Mergansers with a Wood Duck)

05/31/2026

https://wildinstinctsrehab.com/2026/05/31/oh-no-dont-mow/

On May 22, a kind woman called very upset. She had been watching a mallard hen build a nest in a vacant lot near her. Mom had been sitting on the nest for about 3 weeks.Then the lot owner/caretaker…

05/30/2026

The last 2 weeks have been very busy! Summer Interns arrived and intensive training started immediately. Almost as immediate, an intern had a family emergency and had to go back home leaving us short-handed.
Because animal care always comes first here, social media took a back burner. It may stay that way a little longer until interns are a little more trained.
Thank you for your patience and for helping us help them.

05/22/2026

Here's a patient we don't often see in care, even though it is common throughout Wisconsin. It's the largest and only aquatic salamander in the state.
A very kind couple found this mudpuppy while fishing. Not only did they not hesitate to drive it an hour and half one-way, they set up an aerator for it for the trip!
It has a spinal injury and is currently on medication for pain and inflammation.
The short video is a good reminder when things get chaotic and your world turns upside down, just remember to breathe.

05/21/2026

As we approach Memorial Day weekend, we want to remind people of some basic Fawn Facts.
Fawns are adorable with long lashes, sweet faces and no body fat. They look like they shouldn’t be able to survive at all, let alone in the wild, but they have been surviving like this for thousands of years.
Does leave their fawns alone for long periods of time and watch from a distance. Fawns are born with great camouflage and little to no scent. This protects them from predators. If a potential predator approaches, they lie perfectly still and pretend to be invisible. They do this even if they are in the middle of the road and the potential predator is a car. This is why you may come across a fawn lying on the centerline of the road. It is doing what is supposed to do!
Mom stays away from her fawn, so predators aren’t drawn to them. She usually has twins, sometimes triplets. Most of the time she hides them separately, sometimes they are close together. She puts them where she feels it’s safe. That could be your yard, under your deck or even on the welcome mat on your back door. She generally moves them each day but if she feels it’s a very safe place, she may leave them there several consecutive days.
The shape of the fawn’s ears (curled or not) has NOTHING to do with its hydration or if it may need help or not. That is a persistent false myth that gets circulated every year. Ignore it. Better yet, help stop it from spreading.
As they get older and start to move about, people may see them wander and cry. This is not unusual and not an automatic sign of trouble. Often Mom may be off feeding a sibling or even getting some alone time and the fawn wants dinner NOW!
If you find a fawn you have concerns about CALL US BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING. We answer the phone 24/7. We can help you determine whether to intervene. Fawn rehab space is limited across Wisconsin this year, so we want to make sure any fawn brought into care really needs to be in care. Don’t break up a family unnecessarily.
Call 715-362-9453

05/19/2026

The rest of the Class of 2026 Interns have arrived just in time as the patient numbers are increasing daily. And they're all still smiling after two full days of very intensive introductory training. Now the real work begins!
Introducing left to right:
Front Row:
Kat from VA, Senior, Lees-McRae College, NC, Summer Session
Eva from NH, Graduate, Summer & Fall Sessions
Back Row:
Karina from PA, Graduate, Spring & Partial Summer Sessions
Halle from CO, Graduate, Spring, Summer & Fall Sessions
Maddie from MN, Graduate, Summer & Fall Sessions
Bella from IN, Senior, Purdue, IN, Summer Session
Bethany from CA, Graduate, Summer Session

05/15/2026

It's a gorgeous weekend and that time of year!
A busy weekend for people graduations and wild animals with baby animals moving about.
If you are traveling, PLEASE SLOW DOWN!! We have already admitted several turtles, ducklings and other babies from car accidents.
Fawns are also being born and moving around. Do not assume any wild baby is in need of help. CALL US FIRST and we will talk you through the situation.
Curled ears in fawns ARE NOT, repeat ARE NOT a sign of distress.
This weekend, slow down, respect our wild neighbors and enjoy.
If you have questions about a wild animal, call us. we answer the phone 24/7.
715-362-9453

05/14/2026

We often get grouse or turkey chicks that are only a couple days old after their mom is killed on the road. Newly hatched or very young upland birds like this have specialized needs so we’ve wanted to build a new enclosure that can better fulfill these special considerations.
We’re happy to announce that after some whirlwind construction over the last seven weeks, this finally has come to fruition earlier this week. The weather and patient load cooperated allowing us to put in some marathon construction days to complete this project very quickly.
Support for this project was provided by the Rhinelander Community Foundation who awarded us a grant for the framework which helped allow for quick completion for the 2026 Rehab Season.
Thank you for helping us help them!